Shloka 9

सती-शिवचरित्रप्रसङ्गः / The Account of Satī and Śiva’s Divine Conduct

Prelude to Detailed Narrative

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य ब्रह्मणस्स तु नारदः । पप्रच्छ च विधातारं शिवाशिवमहद्यशः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | ityākarṇya vacastasya brahmaṇassa tu nāradaḥ | papraccha ca vidhātāraṃ śivāśivamahadyaśaḥ

Translation

సూతుడు అన్నాడు—బ్రహ్ముని వాక్యాలను ఇలా విని, శుభాశుభాలతో మహాయశస్సు గల నారదుడు మళ్లీ సృష్టికర్త విధాతను ప్రశ్నించాడు.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-marker (इति-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-निपात

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√कर्ण्/कृ (धातु: कर्णयति/शृणोति-अर्थे) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘श्रवण’ अर्थे—having heard

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• पप्रच्छ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• विधातारम्: the Creator (Brahmā)
• विधातारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिवाशिवमहद्यशः: (Nārada) whose great fame concerns Śiva and non-Śiva (auspicious and inauspicious)
• शिवाशिवमहद्यशः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + अशिव + महत् + यशस् (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—नारदस्य

Speaker

Sūta Goswāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Dialogic transmission (śravaṇa–praśna) is framed as a means to remove concealment (tirodhāna) through right understanding, a ‘pilgrimage of hearing’.

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Brahma
• Narada

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights the disciplic approach to Shaiva wisdom: after hearing Brahmā’s account, Nārada seeks further clarity, showing that right understanding of Śiva-tattva arises through attentive listening (śravaṇa) and sincere inquiry (praśna).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Though the verse itself is narrative, it frames the transmission of knowledge that culminates in concrete Shaiva practice—understanding Śiva as the auspicious Lord (Pati) who is approached in saguna forms such as the Liṅga, while also transcending dualities like śiva/aśiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa-manana: listen to Śiva-kathā with focus and then reflect through questioning; this supports mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as inquiry stabilizes devotion and concentration.